Why the study?
Diabetes and depression comorbidity negatively affects disease outcomes, and cortisol may link these conditions by influencing glycemic control. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in type 2 diabetes and evaluate how cortisol associates with depressive symptom severity and glycemic control.
Are elevated cortisol levels associated with depressive symptoms and poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes?
Population
200 diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes and 100 individuals without diabetes
Comparison
Patients with type 2 diabetes vs individuals without diabetes
Design
Case-control study
Key result
Patients with type 2 diabetes had a significantly higher prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms compared to healthy controls (38% vs. 13%), and severe depressive symptoms were independently associated with hypercortisolism.
Authors
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Supports depression screening in poorly controlled T2D; hypothesis-generating for cortisol's mechanistic role.
Case-Control (n=300)
No
Are elevated cortisol levels associated with depressive symptoms and poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes?
Absolute Event Rate: 38% vs 13%
p-value: p=<0.001
In patients with type 2 diabetes, comorbid depressive symptoms are highly prevalent and associated with elevated cortisol levels and poorer glycemic control.
Abbas et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=300). Type 2 diabetes mellitus vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Clinically significant depressive symptoms (p=<0.001). Patients with type 2 diabetes had a significantly higher prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms compared to healthy controls (38% vs. 13%), and severe depressive symptoms were independently associated with hypercortisolism.